Political Quotes

“Mr. President, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis is one of the best and the brightest naval officers this country has. In late May of 2021, he was involved in a serious car accident in which he encountered an unforeseeable, unforeseen medical emergency that caused him to lose consciousness. He was involved in a car accident as a result of that emergency in which two Japanese nationals tragically lost their lives. It was, indeed, an accident, not preventable or foreseeable by Lieutenant Alkonis. Nonetheless, under the Japanese legal system, he now stands convicted of a crime for which he is serving a 3-year prison sentence. This is an accident that was not avoidable by Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis. I believe that, under these circumstances, we must stand behind him and his family. Lieutenant Alkonis has a wife Brittany and three young children. They are set to lose their pay and benefits from their sole breadwinner in their home 1 week from today. We must stop that. The Department of Defense supports this. They wish they could grant it on their own. They don't believe they have the authority. I disagree with them. But this will fix that, and I am happy to help them with that. I urge my colleagues to support this and would gladly accept a voice vote. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The question is on agreeing to the amendment. The amendment (No. 6576) is agreed to. Amendment No. 6577 The PRESIDENT pro tempore.…”